Statement delivered by Ambassador Ranko Vilovic, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, on Item 115: The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
Mr. President,
I thank you for convening this plenary meting to examine the progress made since the first review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its Action Plan two years ago.
I express my appreciation to the facilitator, Ambassador Momen of Bangladesh, and his expert team, for leading the process of negotiation of the outcome of this meeting. We welcome the resolution as agreed upon by all delegations and believe it represents a solid basis for the future implementation of the Strategy.
At the outset, allow me to reiterate that Croatia firmly believes that the United Nations should play a central role in the global struggle against terrorism. The Strategy represents an overarching framework, pooling together all Member States, United Nations bodies, agencies and other counter-terrorism partners. All countries and other relevant stakeholders should be committed to the full and integrated implementation of all four pillars of the Strategy.
My country has aligned itself with the statement delivered earlier today on behalf of the European Union, and fully supports the main messages contained therein. However, allow me to provide you with a brief account of Croatia's implementation of the Strategy at the national, regional and international level.
Mr. President,
Since the last review, Croatia has adopted a National Strategy for Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism. This landmark document is guided by the principles and values enshrined in the Croatian Constitution and the UN Charter, and is based on the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the EU Counterterrorism Strategy as well as on other relevant international legal documents in this field. The coordination of implementation at the national level of all relevant international instruments and initiatives in the field of counterterrorism is carried out by the Interagency Working Group for the Suppression of Terrorism, operational since 2001, which is chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
Mr. President,
The Global Strategy describes broad and diverse measures under the first pillar. In this regard, Croatia is involved in a number of regional activities with the aim of preventing and suppressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. Furthermore, during the two-year period in the Security Council, Croatia was actively engaged in trying to find long-term solutions for a number of prolonged and unresolved conflicts.
Allow me to also to remind you that Croatia chaired the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council in the period 2008 – 2009, while during its Presidency of the Council in December 2008, Croatian President chaired a thematic debate on Global Security and International Terrorism. The outcome of this meeting was a Presidential Statement in which the Security Council, inter alia, called on all UN Member States to renew the degree of solidarity manifested immediately after the tragic events of 11 September 2001 and to redouble their efforts to tackle global terrorism.
Croatia continues to contribute to the UN peacekeeping, and is currently present in 9 peacekeeping missions on the ground. Croatia also looks forward towards increased and strengthened role of the Peacebuilding Commission. As a country that has gradually undergone a transformation from a recipient country into a donor of development assistance, Croatia actively participates in international activities aimed at achieving sustainable development and eliminating potential factors of instability.
Croatia has been active in promoting intercultural and inter-religious dialogue in close cooperation with the UNESCO as well as other regional organizations. In particular, Croatia has contributed to intensifying regional dialogue in South Eastern Europe at the highest level, thus creating an atmosphere of good neighborly relations. Croatia became a member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations in May 2008, and has recently adopted its National Plan, which serves as an important and useful tool for building tolerance and understanding among nations. Croatia welcomes the first Regional Strategy of the Alliance of Civilizations for the countries of South-East Europe, adopted in Sarajevo in 2009, and looks forward to the adoption of the Regional Strategy for the Mediterranean and its Action Plan next year.
Croatia is also active within the OSCE and the Council of Europe, where Croatia was chairing the Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER). Having in mind the need to prohibit incitement to commit terrorist acts and to prevent such conduct, Croatia ratified a number of Council of Europe conventions and protocols on terrorism. Croatia is also advocating that other countries use these legal instruments as they are open to signature and ratification by states non-members of the Council of Europe.
Mr. President,
Under the second pillar of the Strategy, Croatia undertook a wide array of measures in order to prevent and combat terrorism, which represents a serious threat to international peace and security, as it attempts to undermine the core values of the modern world.
Croatia has ratified 14 key international conventions on the suppression of terrorism, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its three Protocols, and also the United Nations Convention against Corruption. In addition, Croatia is active in the development and early use of monitoring mechanisms for these two conventions. Croatia has fully harmonized its legislation with the EU Council's Framework Decision on combating terrorism of June 2002.
Accordingly, domestic legislation has been adjusted as well. In 2008, an important set of amendments were adopted to the Criminal Code as new offences have been introduced, such as public instigation to terrorism and recruitment and training for terrorism. This enabled direct incorporation of provisions of international and regional legal instruments, including requirements of the Security Council resolution 1624 (2005).
Further, the new International Restrictive Measures Act was adopted on 21 November 2008. This Act enables a more comprehensive and efficient implementation of the sanctions regimes, including counterterrorism sanctions, that are adopted within the framework of the UN, the EU, and other international organizations, including those restrictive measures that Croatia introduces in accordance with other obligations that are in conformity with international law.
Croatia has also continued its cooperation with the Interpol and the European Union in the field of enhancing border security and control of lost and stolen travel documents. Croatia has so far signed numerous bilateral treaties on police co-operation with other countries and international organizations, including with all of its neighboring countries.
Mr. President,
Under the third pillar of the Strategy, Croatia supports the activities of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force responsible for ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach in implementing the Strategy, which have been comprehensively elaborated in a report by the Secretary-General. Croatia welcomes the progress made in the final stage of institutionalization of the Task Force, pursuant to resolution 64/235 adopted by this body in December 2009. We believe that providing funding for CTITF's core operations from the regular budget shall positively contribute to the coordination and harmonization of UN system-wide counter-terrorism efforts, as well as to providing support for the efforts of Member States to implement the Strategy in all its aspects.
Croatian authorities have enjoyed constructive cooperation with the UNODC in Vienna and its Terrorism Prevention Branch, as well as with the OSCE, by actively participating in their various counterterrorism conferences, workshops and seminars. Similar events have also been organized on a national level for the purposes of educating law enforcement officials, state attorneys, judges and customs officers.
Regarding the fourth pillar, Croatia believes that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are indeed complementary and mutually reinforcing. Croatia has ratified a large number of international treaties and set up the necessary domestic measures to ensure the full respect for human rights as well as a rule of law-based national criminal justice system. The protection of highest human rights standards stems from the Croatian Constitution. In the National Strategy for Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism special attention has been placed on the protection of human rights, and any measures taken to combat terrorism fully comply with our obligations under international law, in particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law.
Finally, Mr. President, I believe that this second review will confirm the commitment of all participants to the implementation of the Strategy and chart the way forward towards reinforcing the consensus of the international community in fighting this heinous scourge.
I thank you for your attention.
Press releases
